The Supreme Court has made a major change in the ongoing controversy regarding the management and traditions of the famous Banke Bihari temple of Vrindavan. The court has banned the arbitrariness of officials regarding the selection of representatives in the High Power Committee and said that now only the representatives elected through the democratic process will represent the Goswami community in the committee.
The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said in its order that two elected representatives each from Rajbhog and Shayan Bhog Sevadhikari of Banke Bihari will be included in the High Power Committee. Gopesh and Himanshu Goswami should be included in the committee as Rajbhog service officers, while Rajat and Shailendra Goswami should be included in the committee.
In fact, in August last year, a high power committee was formed under the leadership of retired judge of Allahabad High Court, Justice Ashok Kumar. Mathura DM and other officials and four representatives of Goswami community were included in this committee. The objective of the committee was to improve the darshan system and crowd management in the temple.
However, at that time the higher officials of the committee had selected Goswami representatives as per their choice and wish. Goswami community strongly opposed this. After this the matter reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has now said that Goswami representatives included in the committee will give suggestions in matters related to the service tradition and management of the temple.
The committee will seriously consider and consider those suggestions. The court also urged the state government to Banke Bihari Temple Make appropriate plans for the convenience, convenience and crowd management of the devotees in and around the temple and implement them soon. Convenient arrangements should be ensured for elderly and women devotees.
The court said that special attention should be given to facilities like widening of roads, better management of commercial activities, water, rest rooms, hotels, hospitals, waiting areas, emergency exits and battery operated vehicles. In this regard, the committee should prepare a detailed project after listening to the suggestions of Goswami society and local people. Present him before the court.
On behalf of the government, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj told the court that a master plan for the entire development and corridor of Vrindavan is being prepared. Senior advocate Shyam Diwan, appearing for the petitioner Goswami Samaj, said that the historical traditions, puja, raga bhog and darshan timings of this 400 year old temple have been tampered with by the committee.
There is resentment among the service officials and devotees due to this. Shyam Diwan said that many customs, traditions and rituals of the temple are historical and unchanged. These include arrangements like daily charya, dehri puja, bhog time, rest period and service of flower bungalows in summer. He said that unnecessary changes should not be made citing administrative reasons.
He also argued that lakhs of rupees were being charged for the service of flower bungalows. Putting bright halogen lights in front of Thakur ji for live telecast also creates problems because his service is in the form of a child. On this, M Nataraj assured the court that the committee will hold a meeting with Goswami Samaj and put the suggestions before the court.
M Nataraj also told the court that in view of the development works, the work of land acquisition is progressing rapidly. So far 14 sale deeds have been done. He said that till now the money is being paid from the temple fund, but if the court orders, the government will deposit that amount in the temple fund.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern over the narrow and narrow streets leading to the temple. The court said that this is a serious issue from security point of view and now traditional crowd management is not possible. With the help of modern technology, arrangements will have to be made to give darshan to the devotees in a systematic manner.
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